The door to the mess hall opened and Commander Hange along with two Military Police walked in. Clarissa sighed and set down her spoon. She knew that they were there after her. Commander Hange walked up to the table followed by the two Military Police. Clarissa stood up when Commander Hange looked at her. Everyone in the dining hall was watching the interaction.
"Clarissa Daren Ackerman, you are under arrest for murder of four year old Alessandra Everdeen." One of the Military Police said putting handcuffs around Clarissa's wrists. The whole of the mess hall was quiet watching the situation.
"So much for not making a scene." Clarissa says with a small laugh.
"Do you have any weapons on you?" The Military Police asked again. Clarissa sighed.
"I have a switchblade in my right boot." Clarissa said sheepishly.
"We will have to take it." The other officer said. Clarissa lifted her foot. They took off the boot and pulled out the switchblade then put the boot back on. Commander Hange looked surprised.
"How long have you had that?" Commander Hange asked with a smile. She had no sense of right timing.
"Since training, could we please just get me out of here." Clarissa said. One of the Military Police grabbed onto Clarissa's bicep.
"See you Clare," Alina said as they walked off. The two Military Police, Commander Hange, and now Captain Levi followed Clarissa out of the base. A carriage was waiting outside. The first Military Police walked up in the carriage and sat down.
"We will get notified of your trial date. We will be there." Commander Hange said. Clarissa nodded and the other Military Police pulled Clarissa into the Carriage. Clarissa sat down and looked out the window as they drove off. Clarissa looked at the two Military Police. They were trying to avoid eye contact and had a frown. One of them was holding his gun so tight his fists turned white.
They were scared of her.
"You guys are just my transport, right?" Clarissa asked startling them both. The one that seemed less scared nodded. They are just transporting her, they didn't have any actual information other then the baseline charge. That would explain their worry. Clarissa looked out the window the rest of the ride.
The dirt roads that were normally vacant had one or two people walking along them. Probably on their way to try and find a place to live after they were forced to leave Trost. Clarissa went to brush her hair out of her eyes but her hands were weighed down by the chains around her wrists. When she moved the more nervous one flinched.
He is supposed to be top of her year? Clarissa thought. She refrained from smiling or laughing. Clarissa took a deep breath and reminded herself that she would act the same around a child murder. If they actually were one.
They began to go down the roads of Sina. Clarissa smiled as she looked over the scenery. The fields were a rich green, littered with flowers. They were in the small area of the outward towns and getting to Mitras-the capital. The further in they get the more beautiful and scenic the view was.
They pulled up in front of a large courthouse. Maybe they are doing the trial sooner than later. Hopefully, because Clarissa had a job, and this was in her way.
The less nervous Military office stood up and opened the door. Then Clarissa crawled out of the carriage with no help. The Military Police grab onto her bicep. The other Military Police climb out of the carriage and grab onto Clarissa's other bicep. Then they proceed to walk her through the large hall and down some stairs. Then they put her into a cell and take off her cuffs.
"Someone will be down when they get information on your trial." One of the Military Police says. Clarissa nodded and sat down on the old bed in the middle of the room. The Military Police walk up the stairs.
"Disgusting," One of the guards mutter. Clarissa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Clarissa had to admit she would act the exact same under their circumstances, but she still felt horrible. There is no evidence, at all, of her murdering Alessandra. Clarissa laid down in the hard bed and fell asleep. The night before she had no sleep at all, she was too worried about being arrested.
She was exhausted, her ankle hurt, she had a headache. There was so much to worry about. But she was in a cell. No place for her to anything but wait. And waiting involves sleeping.
After twelve or thirteen hours of sleep Clarissa sits up to a sore back. Her headache was not any better. Clarissa stood up and limped towards the bars. "Excuse me," Clarissa said. One of the guards turned around and scoffed.
"What?" He asked.
"I injured my ankle in Trost a day, or whatever ago, and the medics told me I needed to see a doctor about it. I have yet to do that." Clarissa said. The guard sighed and nodded.
"I will go tell the Commander." He said then he walked up the stairs leaving a young looking soldier guarding her alone. The girl was shaking. Clarissa sighed and pulled her hands away from the bar. Then Clarissa sat back down on the bed.
An hour or two later a doctor comes in and gives Clarissa more pain meds and anti inflammatory meds, then he told her to keep her foot up. He actual treated her like she wasn't a cold blooded murdered. Clarissa was thankful for that ten minutes.
Clarissa fell asleep again out of boredom. When she woke, she was woken to two Military Police on the other side of the bars. "Clarissa, your trial is starting. You are needed." She said. Clarissa nodded and walked up to the bars. The woman let her out then put the cuffs on her. They walked through the same halls again then they brought her into the courtroom.
There were people from the Survey Corps and random people of the jury. As well as Mrs. Lilith and Alina. Clarissa was told to go to the middle of the room. So she did. Some random guy walked in front of the courtroom.
"State your full name for the file." The guy said in a low monotone voice.
Clarissa swallowed a lump in her throat then she spoke. "Clarissa Daren Ackerman," The man nodded, satisfied, then he walked away. Another man stood up and looked over papers in his hand.
"Are you aware that you are here for murder of your four year old sister Alessandra Everdeen?" He asked. Clarissa nodded. "How do you plead?" Clarissa took a deep breath.
"Not guilty," Clarissa said. The man nodded and walked away. Another man stood up and faced Clarissa.
"Where were you when Shiganshina was broken into by the titans?" He asked. Clarissa took another deep breath.
"I was in wall Maria buying bread from a small farm." Clarissa said. She felt very exposed standing in the middle of a courtroom telling everyone everything. There were lots of Survey Corps higher ups. There were Mikasa, Eren, and Armin. The man nodded.
"Who is the owner of the farm?" He asked. Clarissa shrugged.
"I don't know. There is no way to tell who he is, he died sacrificing himself so I could escape." Clarissa said slowly, regretting every word. She absolutely hated being this vulnerable.
"Who is able to support your alibi?" He asked. Clarissa swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Alina, she was there when I left. As well as Alessandra." Clarissa said closing her eyes. The man nodded and he looked over to someone. Clarissa opened her eyes to see Alina standing up.
"Is that statement correct? Were you there when Clarissa left for wall Maria?" He asked.
"Yes, both Alessandra and I were there." Alina said. The man nodded.
"Is that the last time you saw her?" He asked. Alina nodded.
"That was the last time I saw her before Trost." Alina said. The man nodded.
"Was Alessandra alive when Clarissa left?" he asked.
"Yes," Alina said. The man nodded.
"Then how did she die?" He asked. Clarissa's heart dropped. The question was inevitable but it is still startling when it came.
"She… She… I-"
"Could we not go into that? She was eight!" Clarissa said. The man turned to her and sighed.
"Are you trying to stop her from saying anything?" The man asked. Clarissa shook her head.
"No, from what I know Alessandra died from being eaten by a titan. From what I have experienced seeing a titan alone is traumatizing! Let alone watching your sister being eaten!" Clarissa yelled. The man shook his head.
"She still has to answer." He said then he turned back over to Alina. "How did she die?" He asked again. Clarissa closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"We were a couple blocks away from the wall Maria gate. Alessandra fell, I tried to go back and get her, but…" Alina trailed off. Clarissa winced then opened her eyes. She looked straight at Alina. A tear was running down her cheek as she stared blankly past the man in front of her. Clarissa knew what was happening, she was having flashback. There were many soldiers that this happened to. They saw the horror of the titans, then they got PTSD. The same thing was happening to Alina. The tears started to run faster.
Clarissa made a split second decision. She ran up to Alina, she had to jump over the railing seperating the Survey Corps from Clarissa. Many guards were running after her. Clarissa got up to Alina and grabbed onto her hands before any guard could touch her. One of the guards went to grab onto Clarissa but once they saw what is happening they restrain themselves.
Alina started to shake. Clarissa squeezed her hands. "Alina, it's okay. I am here, don't worry." Clarissa said calmly. Commander Hange walked forward from the back of the crowd of the higher ups.
Clarissa got a better look at Alina's face. Her eyes were glazed over, she was definitely not looking at something in this room. Suddenly Alina pulled her hand away Clarissa and she screamed at the top of her lungs. She was back.
"Clarissa, why weren't you there! Aley was calling for you! You weren't there! Where the hell were you?!" Alina yelled. Then she noticed where she was. Her face turned red and she sunk to the ground. Clarissa knelt down beside her, Commander Hange did the same. Clarissa had watched Commander Hange deal with soldiers that have PTSD before. She knew exactly what to do.
"Alina," Commander Hange said. Clarissa stood up and looked around at the guards around her. She put her hands out.
"One of you have the key, I need the cuffs off. I have to help her." Clarissa said. All the guards looked between each other then one stepped forward and took the handcuffs off of Clarissa. Clarissa turned around and knelt back down by Alina.
"Sorry," Alina said between her cries putting her hands over her head.
"Why should you be sorry? I don't know exactly what you saw but I know it wasn't nice. Just remember, you are here now." Clarissa said pulling Alina into a hug.
"Let's call a brief recess, you guys have ten minutes." The judge said then he stood up and left the room. Clarissa sighed and held onto Alina. During all of that, Mrs. Lilith didn't move an inch.